Pipe joint



Patented June 15, 1926..

UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE,

HARRY Y. cAnsoN, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AssIGNon 'ro AMERICAN' oAs.1 InoN PIPE COMPANY, oFnInMINGHAM, ALABAMA, A CORPORATION or eEoneIA.

PIPE .IoIN'I',

Apuauon mea August 1s, 1922. serial Na. 582,724.

This invention relates to pipe joints. a The object is to provide means for joming the'two coacting ends of adjacent Asections of cast iron pipe of the bell and spigotv t pe for use in hig pressure pipe lines by t e introduction of resilient acking in the socket or space ybetween the inner walls of thel bell and the spigot, and by the application of a positively locked sectional gland ring in the mouth of the bell to abut the 'packing and prevent outward movement of the latter inresistance to any tendency of the pipe sections to separate due t high internal ressure of the fluid being con ucted throug the pipe line.

Another ob'ect 1s to provide ajoint which 'may be quic 1y and easily made in they filed of even trench or on the surface of the ground, the said packing and the locking ring being readily applicable to the spigot end of the pi e after' the same has been properly applied to the bell end and easily secured 1n place to holdthe joint together. to prevent leakage, the component parts of the joint being manufactured by simple casting processes and so shaped and proportioned as to obviate thenecessity for any machine work on thev same to insure their proper fitting and co-action.

This is a com anion application with one ate herewith, wherein the locking means for: the joint embodies threaded members interposed between the' coacting bell and s igot ends. p i

A full and comp ete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the vfollowing detailed description,

. taken in connection with the.Y accompanying A drawing shows ,a practical form of the in-v drawing forming a part of 4this s ecification; it being understood that w ile the vention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof,but may be changed or modified,-so long `as such changes ormodilications mark 'lio material `departure from the: salient features of the invention,y as specifically pointed out in the a'p ended claims.'-*2- I I, n the drawing, infwhich `similar referP ence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalgfigure's:

Figure l is a-longitudinal sectional view lthroughfa ipe joint constructed in accordance with t e invention; i

igure 3 is av detail perspective view of one of the segments comprising the locking rin1g j he inventionis designed primarily for use in oil fields and other similar 4places where fluids are to be conveyed under high ressure, the pipe line sometimes being laid 1n a `trench and more often on the surface ofv the ground and where great strength in the pipe itself and in the joints is required to Wlthstand .the strain and to permit flexing of the line, due t0 buckling or crawling from interior foreesor to expansion or contraction due to temperature changes, without bursting of the pipe or leakage at the joints.

By the use ofi ipe sections made from a special high gra e of iron cast to produce sections having bell and spigot ends in accordance herewith, the same is adapted for use4 in place of the expensive steel or wrought iron pipe sectionsv having screwed or'langed and bolted joints now in general use in high pressure service and which quickly corrode and break and often require replacement f the entire line.

In the use of the herein disclosed ipe` joint has been provided which maybe readily i manufactured by a single lcasting process,

'the bell and spigot ends having interlitting parts formed integrally therewith and adaptI ed to be assembled in the trench or in the field in conjunction with ak se arable ring composed of simple segments, a ter the packing, formedof some resilient material, has

been properly applied in position, so that the pipe sections, together with the locking or` retaining means, may be easily shipped, handled and located in position at the scene of operations without the dangerof disarranging, dama 'ng or losing any ofthe parts of the joint, as often happens where many of the 4so-oalled prepared joints are em loyed.- f

lorts .have beenmade to employ cast iron pipe lines for conveying fluids vunder high pressure, the joints being made infthe usual manner, but neither the ordinary cast iron pipe northe ordinary joints have been foun capable of standing the strain and, as

a substitute, steel pipe having screwed,.

.by forming t e pipe of 'a special high grade ironhavin'gthe tensile strength to withstand the pressure strains and to resist corrosion,

, etc. and by providing a joint having pack-v j ing so applied and arranged as to be pressed or calke by the internal pressure of the fluid conveyed by the pipe line and to maintain tight `joints under all conditions.

Referring to the drawing there is illustratedthe bell end 1 of a cast iron pipe section having the customaryexterior contour, and it is to be understood that neither the shape, size, nor proportions are obligatory, as-the improved joint may be used on all sizes of pipe lines employing pipe sections of this kind.

The bell end 1 is provided with a socket 2, whose circular wall is formed on a diameter somewhat larger than the exterior diameter of the spigot end 3 of the pipe, which, of course, is the same as the diameter oflthe body of the pipe. The socket 2 terminates at its inner end, in a shoulder 4 arranged E rpendicularlyto the longitudinal axis of te ipe sections when the latter are placed 1n alignment, and the said shoulder is joined t0 the walls of the socket by a bevelled wall 5 intersecting the corner thereof.

The terminal of the spigot end 3 .is provided with an integrally formed bead 6, rectangular in cross section to produce a straight, flat end wall entirel around the pipe, the op osite face 6 o the bead 6 eingperpen icular to the axisof the pipe to provide a flat shoulder or abutment for l theA inner end of packing 7 which is wrap ed and calked around the spigot end 3, a ter the same has been introduced into the socket 2, with the outer angle of the`bead 3 abutting against the bevelled wall 5 of the socket adjacent to where the wall of the latter joins saidbevelled portion', as clearly shown 1n Figure 1. `v l The outer end of the socket 2 is provided with an annular enlargement 8, spaced from the end of the bell, thus producing an overhanging, circular flange 9 whose outer wall is flush with the face of the end vof the bell, and whose inner wall 9m is slightly flared in an outward and rearward direction, as shown in Figure 1. 'f f The overhanging flange 9 where joined to the mouth of the bell 1s thus strengthened by reason ofl the increasing width of the same outwardly, so as to more efl'ectually inserted' spigot end when under flexing strains. Y

' The internal annular wall of the circular. flange 9 is co-extensive or in alignment `with the wall of the socket 2, and .the socket en- 'resist any prying or wedging action of the largement 8 p-roduces an interior shoulder and compressible material, is adapted to be' caulked into said space and abut against the bead 6, and may initially extend somewhat into the socket enlargement 8, the inner wall of the socket beyond the shoulder 10 and adjacent thereto being provided with a plurality of annular grooves l1, which are V-shaped in cross section, the outer walls 11a of the same being arranged more nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe sections than the inner walls thereof, said inner walls facilitating the entrance of the packing material into the socket when being calked and which is forcedinto the grooves, and said outer walls act as abrupt abutments to retard any outward movement, of the packing during the calking operation.

A gland ring is formed by a series of segmental, arcuate sections or retaining keys l2, which are adapted to be placed in surrounding relation to the spi ot end 3, and each segment or section 'is ormed on the arc of a circle to agree with 'the external diameter of the spigot end, the thickness of the sections being such as` to'fit between the inner diameter of the outer annular flange 9 and the outer surface of the spigot. The width vof each section is such as to extend from adjacent to the bevelled interiorshoulder 10 outwardly and beyond the face of the bell where they are provided with marginal,

radially disposed outstanding flanges 13,

each being rovided with a cut-out portion 14 intermediate the ends of the section, and u having at their inner ends a radially disposed outstanding flange 15 fitting within the enlargement 8 of the socket, the front `e`1flange 15 abutting against the face of t inner facefof the overhan ing flange'9 of the bell, the inner ends .og the; sections or retaining keys bearing against the uneven surface of the packing, which results from the calking and reventing bodily longitudinal movement o the latter byreason of such engagement. The inner face of each section or key is inclined to agree with the inclination of the shoulder 10, and to provide an the spigot by t extended, arcuate nose in alinement with the outer end of the packing chamber in order the purpose of introducing the segments oner at a time, therethrough, so that the flange 15 of each may be located behind and against the flange 9; and as each segment is thus placed in position against the outer surface of the spigot end and in alineinent with the said opening, the segment may be moved bodily through the opening, and, by means of the recess or cut-away portion 14, the same may be slid, by a tool or otherwise, circumferentially around on the spigot until the open end of the socket is filled and the segments form substantially a continuous ring. When thus arranged, the packing is w held 'entirely around its outer end, and the joint between two of the segments may be located at the center of the entrance opening 16 as indicated at 17 in Figure 2 and it will be seen that lthe entire rin is held against -any outward movement wit in the mouth of the socket, by the engagement of the flange 9 with the flanges 15.

The entrance opening 16 readily permits the withdrawal of the segments or keys when it is desired to dismantle the pipe line, as is frequently done and is necessary esecially in oil fields where the pipe line is aid on the surface, the outer ribs or flanges 13 of the keys facilitating such withdrawal by affording means for pulling the same, ample space being provided in the annular enlargement of the socket 8 for turning the keys to aline with said opening 16.

When the ipe joint as thus constructed and assembled), is subjected to high pressure from the fluid being conducted by the pipe line, the said pressure will be exerted through the space between the end of the spigot end including` the `bead 6 and the inner shoulder 4 of the bell, the said pressure forcing through the space due to the irregularities in/ the castin s between the outer face of the terminal ead 6 and the bevelled wall 5 of the inner portion of the socket, and forcing the packing 7 in a forward direction. This force compacts the packing further into the annular grooves 11 and against the inner ends of theseries of segments `or keys 12 formingjthe positive locking ring at the outer end of the socket. Only a minimum amount of longitudinal movement of the packing" under such pressure is necessary to cause the same to be deagainst the exterior wall of ilected inwardl he action of the inclined surfaces 11 ofthe annular grooves on said packing. Y

It will thus be seen that an fluctuations in the pressure is taken care o by the packing, as the greater the pressure the greater the packing is compressed. The spigot end having a positive, solid bearing within theseveral segments at one point and likewise through the contact of the terminal bead 6 against the inner wall ofthe socket at `a spaced point, is thus prevented from any material degree of flexing due to the set'- tling of the pipe line, or from other external pressure or orces, and the pipe sections are maintained in longitudinal alinement. The bevelled wall 5 rovides a surface for the outer angle of t e internal bead 6 on thesimplicity of the joint and its freedom from 4 complicated parts, nuts, bolts, threads, etc., `renders the joint capable of being cheaply manufactured and readily and quickly stalled or dismantled.

What is claimed is 1. In a pipe joint of the class described,

including coacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipe sections, a radially dis- 'socket in spaced relation to the end of the bell to provide an outer overhanging flange, a portion of which is cut-away vto form an entrance opening, a removable locking ring surrounding the spigot at the mouth of the socket and formed in independent sections, said sections having circumferentiallyalined flanges and ladapted lto be passed through said` entrance opening and received and heldin said chamber by the engagement of the flanges of the ring sections with the overhanging flanges of the chamber, and a flexible packing disposed around the spi ot and Within the socket and contacting witi the inner wall of the bead-Lon the spigot and also with said locking ring, whereby the pressure ofthe fluid inthe pipe acts upon the rear end of the spigot and the bead to move the spigot and the bead to uniformly compress the packing.

2. In a-pipe joint of -the class described, includingcoacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipe sections, a radially dis-` posed outstanding annular bead lformed on the terminal of the spigot end, said bell end being provided with a socket terminating lll() in an inner, annular shoulder arranged-perpendicular to the axis of the pipe and joined to the inner walls of the socket by an inclined wall, said bead loosely fitting the socket in advance of the inclined wall so as to allow the pressure yof the fluid in the pipe to act against the rear end of the spigot, and

y'said bead bearing against said inclined wall l in the bell end and terminating in an inner shoulder and having near its outer end a circumferential chamber or enlargement provided with an entrance opening, and also having a series of spaced circumferential grooves beyond the inner wall of' the enlargement, said grooves having inclined inner Walls to facilitate' calking of the packing and outer walls which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipe to cause the packing to hug the spigot when forced outwardly by the internal pressure,

an annular terminal bead formed on the spigot end and adapted to enter the socket, said bead being spaced from thev inner shoulder and loosely fitting the socket in the bell, flexible packing surrounding the spigot within the socket and abutting the bead and lling the grooves, and a series of segmental sections forming a locking gland ring, each section having an inner flange located within the enlargement and abutting vthe packing and said sections extending `outwardly beyond the faceof the bell, whereby the pressureof the'fluid in the pipe is caused to act against4 the rear end of the spigot and also against the packing to compress the latter.

4. Ina pipe joint of the class described, including coacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipe sections, a radially disposed outstanding annular bead formed on the terminal ofthe spigot end, said bead being rectangular in cross section, said bell end being providedwith a socket terminating `in an inner annular shoulder arranged perpendicular to the axis of the pipe, said bead loosely fitting the socket and bearing against the latter and spaced from the inner, annular shoulder, an annularenlargement -provide'd in the socket in spaced relation to the end of the bell to form an outer overhanging flange flush with the outer face` of the bell, said 'flange having a cut-away portion to provlde an arcuate entrance opening communicating with saidI enlargement, a locking ring surrounding the spigot at the mouth of the socket and formed of arcuate sections which are introducable through the said entrance opening, the sections having circumferentially alined flanges located inthe enlargement of the socket and bearing against the inner face of the said overhanging flange, and a flexible packing around the spigot and within the socket and contacting with the inner ends of said rin sections and the bead on the spigoten whereby the pressure of the iuid in the ipe is caused to act against the rear end ofp the spigot and also against the packing to compress the latter. j

5. In a pipe joint of the class described, comprising coacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipel sections, a radially disposed outstanding annular bead formed on the terminal of the spigot end, said bell end being provided with a socket terminating in an inner annular shoulder arranged perpendicular to the axis of the pipe, said vsocket being adapted to receive the bead on the spilgot with vthe said bead abutting the wall of the socket, an annular enlargement in the socket in spaced relation to the end of the vbell to provide an outer overhanging flange flush with the outer face of the bell, said fiange'having a cut-away portion to provide an entrance opening communicating withthe enlargement, the inner and outer walls of the enlargement being oppositely tapered, a locking rmgsurround-4 mg the spigot end at the mouth of the socket and formed'v of sections which are introducable through the said entrance opening and have their outer ends projecting beyond the end face of the bell, and provided with circumferentially alined flanges located in the enlargement of the Socket and bearing against the inner wall of the lsaid overhan ing flan e, said socket havin a series o clrcum erentially V- shape grooves located between the enlargement and the inner end thereof, and a flexible packing arranged around the spigot end and within the socket and filling the V-shaped rooves, said packing with the 1nner ends of said rlng sections and the bead on the spigot.

6. In a pipe joint of the class described, including coacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipe sections, a socket formed inv the bell and terminating in an inner shoulder and having near its outer end a circumferential chamber or enlargement provided with an arcuate entrance o ening; and also a series ofspaced circum erential grooves beyond the inne-r Wall of the en.-

argement, an annular terminal bead formed on the spigot end and adapted to enter the socket andabut the inner wall of the same, flexiblel packing surrounding the contacting spigot within the socket abutting the bead and llinig the grooves, and a series of arcuate sections forming a locking gland ring,

each' section having anl inner flange located within the enlargement and abutting the packing, and said sections extending beyond the face of the bell and provided with means to facilitate their turning around the spigot, after said inner flanges have been introduced through the said inlet opening, to constitute a continuous abutment for the outer end of the acking.

7. In a pipe joint of the class described, includinig coacting bell and spigot ends of two adjacent pipe sections, a socket formed in the bell and terminating in an inner shoulder and having near its outer end a circumferential chamber or enlargement provided with an arcuate entrance opening, and also a series of spaced circumferential grooves beyond the inner wall of theenlargement, said grooves having inclined inner ywalls to facilitate calking of the packing and outer Walls more nearly perpendicular to the axis of the pipe to cause the packing to hug the spigot when forced ont- Wardly by the internal pressure of the fluid conveyed through the pipe line, an annular terminal bead formed on the spigot end and adapted to enter the socket and abut the Wall of' the same, flexible packing surroundinlg the spigot Within the socket abutting the bead and filling the grooves, and a series of segmental sections forming a locksaid sections having outstanding, arcuatev fianges at their outer ends to facilitate their removal from the mouth of the bell.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I havehereto affixed my signature.

HARRY Y. CARSON. 

